PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women’s volleyball team announced the hiring of Keith Smith as the team’s new assistant coach as well as Barbara Gonzalez as the team’s Graduate Assistant on Tuesday, June 6.

Smith joins the Providence staff after being a graduate assistant coach at McKendree University while also pursuing a Masters of Business Administration. Smith worked with both the men’s and women’s volleyball teams while at McKendree. Smith helped coordinated the offenses for both teams, both before and during matches, in order to help setters and attackers.

Prior to McKendree, Smith was a volunteer assistant coach of the men’s volleyball team at Grand Canyon University in 2015-2016. While at GCU, Smith worked with setters on decision-making and game plans by breaking down and analyzing game film. During matches, Smith helped analyze opponents blocking to help middles and pin blockers change match plans.

Smith played collegiate volleyball at Grand Canyon University from 2011-2014. Over his four seasons at GCU, Smith started 112 of 128 matches and became the all-time leader in assists in GCU history as well as being the all-time leader in assists for the NCAA during the 25-point era. Smith graduated from GCU with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Management.

During the 2014-15 season, Smith played on the Orion Top Volley Volleyball Club in Doetinchem, The Netherlands. Acting as the starting setter for the club, Smith helped lead the team to top-four finishes in the regular season, the national cup, and the playoffs. He also helped the club earn a chance to play in the CEV Challenge Cup during the 2015-16 season, after having previously missed out in the 2014-15 season.

"I am sincerely looking forward to working with Keith. He brings an expertise in the skill of setting that I believe will be a great benefit to our squad,” said Coach Margot Royer-Johnson. “His passion for the game will continue to help us be more competitive in the Big East conference and nationally.”

Gonzalez joins the Friars having graduate from Boston College in 2017 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications. Gonzalez played collegiate volleyball for the Eagles from 2013-17. While at Boston College, Gonzalez worked as a Public Relations and Media Intern for Locker Room Talk, LLC, helping manage the company’s social media while also conduction research and compiling data on the college recruitment process. Gonzalez also worked as an Operations Assistant in the BC Athletics Operations, helping work different varsity gameday positions such as table assistant, scoreboard operator, etc.

“Barbi will be a great help to the program in the areas of social media and travel assistance, as well as on court training,” said Royer-Johnson. “We are happy she’s part of the staff!”